April, 2016--Books, stories, essays, poetry...what we're reading and why
Talk Literary Snobs
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1CliffBurns
Made up for lost time in March but need to keep up the momentum this month.
Good stuff on the way, including a mystery, a western and plenty of fat history tomes.
Where to begin?
Good stuff on the way, including a mystery, a western and plenty of fat history tomes.
Where to begin?
2anna_in_pdx
Reading a weird steampunk novel that came out in 2011, Dream of Perpetual Motion. At first I was just thinking it was really derivative of other things I had read in the past but now I have finally gotten into the plot device.
4anna_in_pdx
LOL, try the veal
5mejix
About a third into The Stand by Stephen King. Some elements don't feel very credible but the book is very entertaining, as expected.
Also nibbling on The Journal of Delacroix.
Also nibbling on The Journal of Delacroix.
6Karin7
I'm listening to All the Light We Cannot See and so far, so good! I also recently finished a different WWII novel in print, The Nightingale .
7berthirsch
Dolly City - currently 1/2 way through. The language and setting are other-worldly. Paranoia, alienation, a shocking look into our future, a metaphor for the current state of affairs in Israel and Palestine?...this is a courageously, fearless piece of writing.
somewhat reminiscent of Gonçalo M. Tavares. Learning To Pray in the Age of Technique
somewhat reminiscent of Gonçalo M. Tavares. Learning To Pray in the Age of Technique
8iansales
Currently reading Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky, but not much enjoying it. With a cast of Kansas bilble-thumpers, it feels at times like I'm reading it for punishment.
9justifiedsinner
Re-started The Childermass. Very strange book.
10inaudible
Rereading David Markson's Wittgenstein's Mistress. I wish I were reading Peter Wilson's brand new Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire.
11Cecrow
>5 mejix:, after a certain character enters the story, you'll discover "credible" goes entirely out the window. Still a pretty good read though.
Finishing up Martin Chuzzlewit as my yearly Dickens-in-publication-order read. It's better than the last couple.
Finishing up Martin Chuzzlewit as my yearly Dickens-in-publication-order read. It's better than the last couple.
12mejix
>11 Cecrow: yep. I'm starting to notice.
13CliffBurns
Just finished Adam Johnson's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, THE ORPHAN MASTER'S SON.
Set almost entirely within the strange confines of North Korea, an utterly believable (to me) portrait of that weird, closed society. Johnson has done his research, to be sure, but he has put it in service of a riveting storyline and sympathetic, fully-fleshed characters.
Worthy of all the praise it's received.
Set almost entirely within the strange confines of North Korea, an utterly believable (to me) portrait of that weird, closed society. Johnson has done his research, to be sure, but he has put it in service of a riveting storyline and sympathetic, fully-fleshed characters.
Worthy of all the praise it's received.
14iansales
Bleeding Kansas not one of Paretsky's best - possibly because I felt the entire cast deserved shooting. About to start The Heart is a Lonely Hunter...
15berthirsch
>13 CliffBurns:- I loved his Fortune Smiles, some of which also takes place on Korean peninsula. His characters are unusual and he has a great sense of humor. Writes from a "quirky" point of view.
16CliffBurns
FORTUNE SMILES was a magnificent collection and I agree with your sentiments. Some of the best short stories I've read in years.
17CliffBurns
Finished Jim Harrison's THE ANCIENT MINSTREL.
His last book (except for the inevitable posthumous offerings) and not one of his great ones. Meandering and occasionally repetitious, and I have to say his on-going fascination with youngish women/girls is more than a tad squirm-inducing.
His last book (except for the inevitable posthumous offerings) and not one of his great ones. Meandering and occasionally repetitious, and I have to say his on-going fascination with youngish women/girls is more than a tad squirm-inducing.
18CliffBurns
A rare move for me, gave up on a novel 50 pages in.
The book in question, Allen Eskins' THE LIFE WE BURY, just seemed so thoroughly familiar and formulaic to me, I felt there was little point going on.
Mental note: avoid this author like green bread...
The book in question, Allen Eskins' THE LIFE WE BURY, just seemed so thoroughly familiar and formulaic to me, I felt there was little point going on.
Mental note: avoid this author like green bread...
19berthirsch
congrats- overcame your guilt-time is too precious and there are so many great books to read.
20CliffBurns
Finished Minette Walters' THE CELLAR.
A fast read, a mystery with a twist. Not stupendous but definitely diverting.
A fast read, a mystery with a twist. Not stupendous but definitely diverting.
21CliffBurns
And now THE DEEP SEA DIVER'S SYNDROME, by an author the jacket copy refers to as "France's J.G. Ballard".
A cyberpunk-ish offering, about a man who can descend into his dreams and return with ectoplasmic remnants of them, which are then sold as fine art sculptures. Quite original at times, doing new things with the genre, but not always convincing or credible.
A cyberpunk-ish offering, about a man who can descend into his dreams and return with ectoplasmic remnants of them, which are then sold as fine art sculptures. Quite original at times, doing new things with the genre, but not always convincing or credible.
23jldarden
Had ours last weekend. Dropped $45 on a variety of CDs, audiobooks, kids books and literary fiction. A nice haul.
25CliffBurns
NOVELS IN THREE LINES by Felix Feneon.
Extremely strange offering: Feneon was employed by a Paris newspaper for a number of years (early 20th century), his job to condense stories from various regions of France down to two or three line snippets. Haikus of murder and suicide and local feuds. Feneon had a particular affinity for it and this selection displays a sharp wit and brilliance for concision. A curio, to be sure, but a fast, fun and macabre read.
Extremely strange offering: Feneon was employed by a Paris newspaper for a number of years (early 20th century), his job to condense stories from various regions of France down to two or three line snippets. Haikus of murder and suicide and local feuds. Feneon had a particular affinity for it and this selection displays a sharp wit and brilliance for concision. A curio, to be sure, but a fast, fun and macabre read.
26Karin7
All the Light We Cannot See was the best books I've read/listened to so far this year. I did most of it by audiobook, but finished in print when I just couldn't wait any longer. Both are exquisite. The writing is well done, and the narrator captures the subtleties and beauty of the writing and does not butcher women's voices.
27berthirsch
Reader’s Block by David Markson
A novel, poem, encyclopedia, a list of artistic accomplishments and failures, human potential and depravity, probably all of the above and more.
Markson has created a new medium, a captivating read that takes place inside the author’s head.
This is a book that will stay with you; clearly it has addictive qualities stimulating one’s curiosity to explore. An antithesis to not knowing as he writes:
“I count religion a childish toy, and hold there is no sin but ignorance… I do not believe in God, though I do believe in Picasso, said Diego Rivera.”
On page 61, Markson appears to self-describe this effort as:
“a novel of intellectual reference and allusion so to speak minus much of the novel.”
Indeed there appears just a glimpse of a narrative, a “protagonist” and a “reader” as Markson intersperses his lists of curiosities, suicides, anti-Semites, musings, historical events and facts, illegitimate children, coincidences of dates, almost questioning if there are coincidences or that all these items are interrelated, presenting a history of human exceptionalism and deceit.
Through this accumulation of facts (“the Mona Lisa has no eyebrows”)-he questions is this an insignificant fact or a reflection on beauty; as is a later statement:
” I think you’re more beautiful now than then, rather than your face as a young woman, I prefer your face as it is now. Ravaged.”
Near the end he reveals that the protagonist has both lung and prostate cancer and comments “why do you always wear black, I am mourning my life”.
This is a work of fiction worthy of an index. If one were to Google each reference it would take several months, maybe a full year to complete. A friend of mine, familiar with Markson, said it “would be like a wormhole”.
Markson is an acquired taste one which I enjoy imbibing.
A novel, poem, encyclopedia, a list of artistic accomplishments and failures, human potential and depravity, probably all of the above and more.
Markson has created a new medium, a captivating read that takes place inside the author’s head.
This is a book that will stay with you; clearly it has addictive qualities stimulating one’s curiosity to explore. An antithesis to not knowing as he writes:
“I count religion a childish toy, and hold there is no sin but ignorance… I do not believe in God, though I do believe in Picasso, said Diego Rivera.”
On page 61, Markson appears to self-describe this effort as:
“a novel of intellectual reference and allusion so to speak minus much of the novel.”
Indeed there appears just a glimpse of a narrative, a “protagonist” and a “reader” as Markson intersperses his lists of curiosities, suicides, anti-Semites, musings, historical events and facts, illegitimate children, coincidences of dates, almost questioning if there are coincidences or that all these items are interrelated, presenting a history of human exceptionalism and deceit.
Through this accumulation of facts (“the Mona Lisa has no eyebrows”)-he questions is this an insignificant fact or a reflection on beauty; as is a later statement:
” I think you’re more beautiful now than then, rather than your face as a young woman, I prefer your face as it is now. Ravaged.”
Near the end he reveals that the protagonist has both lung and prostate cancer and comments “why do you always wear black, I am mourning my life”.
This is a work of fiction worthy of an index. If one were to Google each reference it would take several months, maybe a full year to complete. A friend of mine, familiar with Markson, said it “would be like a wormhole”.
Markson is an acquired taste one which I enjoy imbibing.
28inaudible
I'm rereading Markson's Wittgenstein's Mistress right now. He is just remarkable, isn't he?
29berthirsch
>28 inaudible: a unique voice.
30CliffBurns
Finished Steve Coll's GHOST WARS, a Pulitzer Prize-winning account of Afghanistan's woes, from the Soviet invasion of 1979 to the eve of September 11th.
Brilliantly told, the author taking a complex and multi-layered subject, featuring a disparate cast, and creates one grand, encompassing narrative. A notable achievement--this book deserved every bit of praise it received.
Brilliantly told, the author taking a complex and multi-layered subject, featuring a disparate cast, and creates one grand, encompassing narrative. A notable achievement--this book deserved every bit of praise it received.
31Cecrow
Finally reading something by Haruki Murakami; I chose The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which seems to win most polls as his best novel. I see what people mean by "easy to read, difficult to understand". At least the narrator is as lost as I am, so far.
32CliffBurns
TRAVELLING TO WORK, Michael Palin's diaries from 1988-98. An amusing raconteur and an easy read (even at 500+ pages).
33Tsuki_hana
Recently reread John Grisham's The Street Lawyer, read it when I was young but now I understand the plot and characters more.
I'm trying to decide on my classics read before the years out, Charles Dickens' ,Bleak House or Jules Vern or Mark Twain? Any suggestions?
I'm trying to decide on my classics read before the years out, Charles Dickens' ,Bleak House or Jules Vern or Mark Twain? Any suggestions?
34bluepiano
>25 CliffBurns: Im so fond of that book that I plan to get the illustrated version as well. Feneon was a colourful character: http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/05/books/a-dandy-and-a-terroist.html?pagewanted=a...
Makes me happy to see the love for David Markson as well. Am re-reading Get A Life by Philippe Dupuy and Chas Berberian. A bit unusual because the two authors both contributed to the text and to the artwork.
Makes me happy to see the love for David Markson as well. Am re-reading Get A Life by Philippe Dupuy and Chas Berberian. A bit unusual because the two authors both contributed to the text and to the artwork.
35anna_in_pdx
Just started An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States. ETA whoops did not notice the month ... sigh
